Multicolored electric flashlight



A g- 5, 1952 H. B. MITCHELL 2,606,242

MULTICOLORED ELECTRIC FLASHLI GHT Filed Aug. 25, 1950 INVENTOR.

BY Mm 114,161,611

E] glwmx/y g v I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATESNPATENT OFFICE 1 Howard B. Mitchell, Larksl l Calif.

Application. August 25, 1950, SerialNo.*18i,357

This. invention relates to portable lamps and more particularly to flashlights in which an incandescent lamp bulb is operated by a removable battery of dry cells.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means associated with a flashlight whereby the concentrated beams of light may be'varied in color to first emit a clear or white light for illuminating objects, and as desired to present red beams to flash a warning signal when danger is imminent.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a cap that is preferably made of red plastic material, as compared to the lens and seating means for the caps. that are constructed, of clear plastic, whereby the successive red and white beams may be optionally flashed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel mounting of the cap relative to the. lens of the flashlight.

An additional object of the invention is the production of a variable light changer that can be readily adjusted to the construction of stand ard flashlights, is economical to manufacture, positive in operation, strong, durable, readily replaceable and highly efiicient and serviceable in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

The preferred and modified forms of my in-E vention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a flashlight to which my invention is applied, the view being partially shown in section and disclosing the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is an inverted view of a modified form of retaining means for the colored cap of the invention,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an inverted view of the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1 and illustrating to advantage the top lens and the red colored plastic cap that is mounted in the vanes 7 that are integrally moulded with the lens, and Fig. '7 is a modified form of the invention in which two vanes are employed to retain the cap.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration like numerals refer to like parts throughout the same, the numeral 1 indicates a casing of any desired configuration that is provided with a conventional circuit closer 8. One or more of the batteries housed 3 Claims. X01. 177-327 within the casing are indicated by the numeral 9 andserve to make electrical contact with'the supported socket ID that carries therein an ele'ctrical bulb ll.

A conventional parabolical metal reflector 2 is suitably secured to the socket. On the upper marginal flanged 'end I 3 of the reflector rests: the lens of the present invention which will be hereinafter fully described.

Any convenient-open end closure M and a collar [5 may be employed to detachably retain.- the lens within the confines of the flashlightcasing- The lens l6 that is utilized in the IJI'GSBTlhFiD. vention consists of a. circular plate of clear; plastic material as generally employed in. flash lights. A plurality of vanes l1, terminatingin depending legs l8, are moulded to the, bottom. of the lens so that there isinreality formed a. one piece construction of lens, vanes" and legs.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3, the legs I8 flare outwardly from the vanes H, as at I9, to thus frictionally retain in. an adjusted position between the vanes, a cap 20. In Figs. 1, 5- and 6, the retaining means for the cap in said adjusted position are nubs 2| that are formed at the point of juncture of the vanes I 1 and the legs l8.

Said cap 20 employed as the variable light changer, that is when the light is changed from white to red and vice-versa, is a red plastic cylindrical body having a lower open end. This cap is of a slightly greater diameter than that of the bulb ll in order that the cap can readily encompass the bulb as the cap slides from its full line position of Figs. 3 and 6 to the dotted line position of said figures.

In the operation of my variable light changing invention, finger pressure applied to the center of the pliable lens l6 when the flashlight is held in an upright position will expand the flared arms of Fig. 3 or will move radially or outwardly the nubs 2| of Fig. 6. Thus the cap will readily drop from its seat within the vanes, will encompass the bulb and hence red beams of light will be difiused from the flashlight as the beams are reflected from the metallic reflector l2. Subsequently by turning the flashlight upside down, or in other words, by reversing the vertical position of the flashlight and repeating the same finger pressure on the center of the lens, the red colored cap will slide toward the lens. of the finger pressure will cause the cap to again be seated as originally retained by the nubs or frictionally gripped by the vanes. Thus the user will obtain the illumination of a clear light as Release found in the conventional flashlight. In this in stance there will only be present a negligible showing of red that will be entirely dissipated or will disappear when viewed from a distance.

, While I have mentioned the color red as the constituent color of the cap, it is obvious that the cap could be made of varied colored lights for any desired purpose. The use of the red colored cap will be most effective and serviceable in converting a white light to a red light when danger is imminent, for instance when an automobile accident occurs and it is desired to flash a warning signal. The underlying princlple of the invention of a variable colored light also has a splendid field of use in a variety of signalling devices, for instance railroad lanterns, and can also be used in illuminated toys.

It is to be understood that the forms of my from the color of .said lens, means carried bysaid lens for: detachably supporting said cap therein, said cap capable of being dislodged from its supporting means upon the applicationof manual pressure to the center of said lens to cause said cap to encompass the lamp and to change the lightrays to the color of said cap,

said cap capable of being returned to its normal supported position beneath said lens when the flashlight is inverted.

2. In a flashlight, the combination, with a lamp, a casing and a reflector, of a pliable lens having a plurality of pliable arms depending therefrom, a cap having transparent sides and a bottom open end, said cap being normally retained beneath said lens and between the arms thereof and lying in the path of the light rays reflected from the lamp, said cap capable of being dislodged from said arms to encompass the lamp, when manual pressure is applied to the center of said lens to thus vary the color of the light ditfused from the lamp, said cap capable of being returned to its normal seated position between said arms when the flashlight is inverted. I 3. In a flashlight, the combination, with a lamp, a casing and a reflector, of a pliable lens made of clear plastic material, a plurality of spaced pliable arm's integrally formed with said lens and depending therefrom, a red colored cap having a lower open end and transparent sides and adapted to be seated beneath said lens and between said arms, means provided in said arms to grip said cap adjacent the lower end thereof to prevent accidental displacement of the cap from said arms, said cap capable of being dislodged from the cap gripping means upon the application of pressure to said the center of lens, whereby-the cap encompassing the lamp causes a diiiusion of red light rays therefrom.

HOWARD B. MITCHELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'TENTS Number Name Date 2,104,911 Snyder Jan. 11, 1936 2,361,480 JOITO Oct. 31, 1944 2,431,091 Thomas NOV. 18, 1947 2434,741 Hefner et al Jan. 20, 1948 

